True friendship

Ryan Reynolds’ touching tribute to Michael J. Fox

Ryan Reynolds is grateful that his sick father has "felt less alone" thanks to Michael J. Fox.(Bild: APA/Getty Images via AFP/GETTY IMAGES/Terry Wyatt)

"I know Michael J. Fox - damn well!" He is notorious for his humorous remarks on social media. But in his latest post, Ryan Reynolds sounds unusually serious - and very grateful. It is a copy of his guest column from "Time". In it, he pays tribute to Michael J. Fox, who was named one of the "100 Most Influential People of 2024" by the magazine.

The "Deadpool" star reveals that he and his Canadian compatriot have been close friends for 17 years: "Mike is funny, warm, handsome and incredibly smart."

"Feeling less alone" because of Fox
Fox and Reynolds' father also share a personal fate - James Chester Reynolds died in 2015 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. According to Ryan, it is thanks to Fox that "my dad, like millions of others, felt less alone".

Reynolds characterizes the "Back to the Future" star in his inimitable way: "Mike falls down a lot. Not just because he has Parkinson's - but because he's not afraid to fly!" The 47-year-old doesn't want to portray Fox as "just the biggest advocate for Parkinson's research on the planet": "It would be lazy of me to just call him that. Or to put him down as just a movie star who has shaped the lives of people all over the world with his unique humor and charm. He is the sum of these wonderful individual parts and then some."

"Back to the Future" viewed with daughter
Reynolds reveals that he watched "Back to the Future" for the first time last year with his eight-year-old daughter. James is named after her grandpa. The proud dad: "It's been her favorite movie ever since. Another child from another generation seeing what I saw."

Reynolds goes on to write that he considers himself lucky to be able to call Fox a friend: "My daughter still has no idea I know him. Nor do I need to teach her the level of compassion that Mike has mastered. Or I don't have to tell her stories the way Mike can tell them. I just need to teach her that it's okay to fall down a lot. Because that's the absolute best way to realize that you're flying!"

The post has received almost 750,000 likes so far. Fox thanked him with a comment underneath: "It's easier to accomplish things with friends like Ryan Reynolds. Thanks Buddy!"